White Grunt Regulations

White Grunt

Haemulon plumierii

AKA:

Ruby Red Lips, Red Mouth Grunt, Common Grunt

Managed by:

SAFMC

Physical description:

The white grunt is silver-gray, with numerous blue and yellow horizontal stripes on the body and head with a white underbelly. Mouth is large and bright orange. On some individuals the scales are tipped with bronze. The pectoral fins are chalky and the other fins are gray. The lining of the body cavity, or peritoneum, is black.

Biological description:

White grunt occur in tropical and warm-temperature waters, inhabiting irregular bottom areas of the continental shelf from Virginia to Brazil, including Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Audible grunting is produced by grinding of the pharyngeal teeth, with the air bladder acting as an amplifier. White grunts are sexually mature during their third year, or when they reach about 10 inches long. Spawning occurs in the late spring and summer. The species is reported to live as long as 13 years, attaining a length of 25 inches and weight of 8 pounds. White grunt are carnivores that feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates by rooting around in the sand and shell hash between rocky ledges and at the bases of coral formations.

South Atlantic Federal Regulations

Commercial:

OPEN

Size Limit: None

Trip Limit: None

Regulatory Remarks:

All species must be landed with head and fins intact.

Recreational and commercial fishermen are required to use dehooking tools when fishing for snapper grouper species.

The use of non-stainless steel circle hooks (offset or non-offset) is required for all species in the snapper grouper complex when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits in waters North of 28 degrees N. latitude.

After the commercial quota is met, all purchase and sale is prohibited and harvest and/or possession is limited to the recreational bag limit. This prohibition does not apply to fish harvested, landed, and sold prior to the quota being reached and held in cold storage by a dealer. Quotas are given in gutted weights.

Annual Catch Limit (ACL) -This species is managed under an ACL. See current information on Commercial ACLs (quotas) from NOAA Fisheries.

Additional Updates:

Recreational:

OPEN

Size Limit: None

Trip Limit: Included in the 20 Fish Aggregate Bag Limit.

Regulatory Remarks:

Other Snapper Grouper Complex Species: 20 Fish Aggregate Bag Limit. There is an aggregate bag limit of 20 fish per person inclusive of all fish in the snapper grouper complex currently not under a bag limit, excluding tomtate and blue runner. This means you may catch your bag limits and additionally retain up to 20 other fish for which there is no bag limit.

All species must be landed with head and fins intact.

Recreational and commercial fishermen are required to use dehooking tools when fishing for snapper grouper species.

The use of non-stainless steel circle hooks (offset or non-offset) is required for all species in the snapper grouper complex when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits in waters North of 28 degrees N. latitude.

The sale of bag-limit caught snapper grouper species is prohibited.

Annual Catch Limit (ACL) - This species is managed under an ACL. See current information on Recreational ACLs from NOAA Fisheries.